Book Description:
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I absolutely refuse to tell a lie no matter the consequences. So don’t ask me a direct question unless you’re prepared for a direct answer—that’s something my SoCal sewing girlfriends have learned the hard way. But who would have thought my honesty policy would get me fired from my job at the preschool? Or that a desperate—and not to mention devastatingly handsome—single father of one of my (now-former) students would hire me that same day as a nanny for his daughter? I’m an education professional. How hard can taking care of a four-year-old and her over-stressed, over-worked father be?
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Molly, the first book in Sarah Monzon’s Sewing in SoCal series set in California in the San Diego area. My first impressions of Molly were mixed, and I didn’t quite know what to make of her and her choices. Molly had made a pact to always truthfully answer direct questions, and be honest in how she relates to people.
The story opens with Molly, a Montessori early childhood educator, being fired by her boss because she’d blurted out answers to her preschooler’s questions that a tactful person would have dodged by redirecting the child to ask their parents. I was confused by Molly’s willingness to die on this particular hill, and lose a job she loved, and disappoint the preschool kids who loved her. The story is in first person point of view, and it’s not my favorite viewpoint when I’m struggling to relate to the main character. That said, I’m glad I overcame my initial reservations and kept reading. Later in the story I was happy to discover the reasons that explained why Molly was on a truth crusade.
The hero, Ben, was adorable, and the main reason I kept reading the story. Ben is a doctor, a widower, and single dad to Chloe, his four year old daughter who was in Molly’s preschool class. Ben had been called to the school to discuss his frequent late pickups of Chloe from preschool due to his work schedule at the hospital. Ben overhears the conversation where Molly is being fired, and he knows who Molly is because Chloe talks about her. This eventually leads to Molly accepting Ben’s job offer to work as Chloe’s nanny.
I am a fan of the nanny romance trope, and Chloe was adorable and mischievous. The story has many fun and humorous moments, often involving Chloe. I enjoyed meeting Molly’s friends in her sewing group, who feature in later books in the series. I recommend Molly to readers who like single dad falling for the nanny romcoms with quirky characters and a light faith thread in the story.
